58 Montera Middle School students went on a three-day trip to Slide Ranch Oct 22-24.
Teachers selected 58 students from Peer Restorative Justice, Asian Pacific Islander Club, African Male Achievement, Strong Young Leaders, and students from the two Latinex advisories. In order to fill other open spots, staff selected students who had been performing well.
Ms. Erica Saephan supervised the whole trip, shopping for all the food and Trader Joe’s snacks for the trip. “It was all worth it to provide these students with this opportunity. I would gladly do it again,” Saephan said.
Oakland Goes Outdoors, also known as (OGO), funded the entire trip and paid for transportation fees and food.
Bay Area Wilderness Training also known as (BAWT) provided the equipment for the trip. From sleeping bags to tents, BAWT provided it.
This was possible in the first place due to Melissa Schimdt -PTO president- who originally got the email from Slide Ranch offering the opportunity and forwarded it to Latoya Williams, Montera principal, before filling it out with Saephan.
All of the chaperones were ecstatic to provide their students with this opportunity. Counselor Nico Ramos saidcommented “It was nice to connect with the students and find their passions.” “I got paid for it too. How much better could it get.”
The fee for the two day trip was originally $225 per person but with the Slide Ranch OGO sponsorship it was $50 per person, which OGO covered.. The buses were paid for by OGO, although Saephan and Samuel Cooper drove some of the supplies in their cars.
Saepan, Cooper, Nico Ramos, and Tina Harambe were the main chaperones with the help of two parent chaperones. Saepan commented “Education is not just in the classroom but in nature as well.”
